Bavaria's Free Voters push for stronger CSU ties to reshape German politics
Hubert Aiwanger, leader of the Free Voters' Union (Freie Wähler), has openly signaled his support for closer cooperation with Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU). "Germany—and Bavaria—needs a political option for liberal-conservative voters who want constructive policies," he told the Mediengruppe Bayern in an interview published in Thursday's editions.
The proposal follows calls from former CSU executive board member Peter Gauweiler for a "Free Voters/CSU alliance." Aiwanger acknowledged that the specifics would still need to be negotiated, noting, "Voters could certainly imagine such a partnership, but the parties themselves would face challenges in making it work."
A more realistic approach, he suggested, would be to expand the model of cooperation already in place in Bavaria. "March separately, strike together," Aiwanger said, framing the goal as countering what he described as the "growing leftward shift in politics," which he believes fuels protest votes for fringe parties.
At the same time, the Free Voters' leader expressed confidence that, with stronger strategic ties to the Union (CDU/CSU), his party could achieve nationwide success, potentially clearing the five-percent threshold in all of Germany's states. So far, however, Aiwanger said the Union had given his party "the cold shoulder," which is why the Free Voters must continue building their own strength.
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